Andrew Kay Quality Assurance & Impact Co-ordinator, CANWe Solutions CIC

Quality Assurance Identifying the Jewels in your Crown Andrew Kay Quality Assurance & Impact Co-ordinator, CANWe Solutions CIC

Today’s Agenda • A bit of background: CANW PQASSO and me • What does ‘Quality Assurance’ mean to you? • ‘Quality’ in your Organisation • Identifying the Jewels in your Crown • Revisiting ‘Quality Assurance’ • Looking at the areas to be considered • Identifying the first steps, with examples • How much will it cost? • But look at the benefits!!!!! • Case Study – Smile Mediation

A bit of background • 2009 - first organisation in the UK to achieve • January 2013 - achieved Andrew Kay Business Development and Project Management Quality Manager BS5750/ISO9001

PQASSO Until 2012 ……. Practical Quality Assurance System for Small Organisations Now “The leading quality standard developed for the third sector by the sector, for organisations of all sizes” Charities Evaluation Services

What does ‘Quality Assurance’ mean to you? Probably a waste of time? Q A S S O

What does ‘Quality Assurance’ mean to you? Probably a waste of time? Quite complicated? A S S O

What does ‘Quality Assurance’ mean to you? Probably a waste of time? Quite complicated? Another lot of rules to learn? S S O

What does ‘Quality Assurance’ mean to you? Probably a waste of time? Quite complicated? Another lot of rules to learn? Seems a lot of extra work? S O

What does ‘Quality Assurance’ mean to you? Probably a waste of time? Quite complicated? Another lot of rules to learn? Seems a lot of extra work? Stops us being ‘creative’? O

What does ‘Quality Assurance’ mean to you? Probably a waste of time? Quite complicated? Another lot of rules to learn? Seems a lot of extra work? Stops us being ‘creative’? OTT for our needs?

‘Quality' in your Organisation Recruitment Learning and Development Contract Negotiations External Meetings with clients, stakeholders, agencies, etc Feedback, monitoring, evaluation Internal Meetings: Trustees, Managers, Services, Projects, etc Supervision and Assessment Networking External Assessments

‘Quality' in your Organisation Nearly everything you do in your day-to-day work involves ‘quality’ So, who is responsible for ‘Quality’ in your organisation? EVERYBODY!

Questions you may have asked Probably a waste of time? Quite complicated? Another lot of rules to learn? Seems a lot of extra work? Stops us being ‘creative’? OTT for our needs? No - because you probably aren’t going to be doing anything extra!

So, what’s it all about? Involving Everybody

Everybody? Really? (1) • Managing Money • Managing Resources • Communications and Promotion • Working with Others • Monitoring and Evaluation • Results • Planning • Governance • Leadership and Management • User-Centred Services • Managing People • Learning and Development

Everybody? Really? (2) Planning – Level 1

Everybody? Really? (3) • Recommended First Step Carry out an initial self-assessment review of the 12 areas • Commitment Maximum one day per ‘Level’ Key person(s) from each area, when needed • Purpose To identify where you are in terms of ‘Quality’ • Key Criterion

And then… That’s up to you! Detailed Self-Assessment

So how much does it cost, then ??? • First meeting / presentation Free of Charge • PQASSO Manual (from CES) See CES website • Initial Self-Assessment (per ‘Level’) £250 • Detailed Self-Assessment (per ‘Level’) £250 • ‘Consultancy’ per day (incl expenses) £190 • CES PQASSO Assessment See CES website

What are the benefits? • Commissioning / Funding Applications • Charity Commission Endorsement for PQASSO Level 2 • Multiple layers of impact in PQQs (Pre-Qualification Questionnaires) • Be able to state that you have – or are working towards – a recognised Quality Mark • Show awareness of – and practice of - ‘Quality’ in day-to-day operations • Refer to your ability to meet PQASSO standards • From a recent PQQ from Salford City Council, Child Action Northwest were able to quote their conformance to PQASSO standards in every single category in the PQQ: The Organisation Economic and Financial Standing Insurance Health and Safety Equality and Diversity Sustainability Business Continuity Technical and Professional Ability Data Protection Safeguarding Outcome Measurement Working with Service Users

What are the benefits? Within your organisation • Awareness across the organisation that ‘Quality’ is an integral aspect of day-to-day operations – not something separate • If self-assessments are done well (by involving ‘everybody’): • People will feel that they have been given ‘a voice’ in influencing the way that the organisation is run • Major and other problems/omissions may be identified, and then rectified • Opportunities may be identified, discussed and – where appropriate – implemented • If the intention is to be assessed for a Quality Mark, the external assessors will find an organisation with good working practices, increased awareness of what ‘Quality’ is, and positive attitudes to maintaining the standards

Case Study: Smile Mediation

August 2010 – Karen Ainsworth joined as manager • January 2011 – Marketing Collateral • March 2011 - Present – Marketing Strategy • September 2012 - PQASSO Initial Self-Assessment • Oct 2012 – April 2013 – Consultancy / Practical Help • January 2013 – Business / Operation Plan Template • April 2013 – ‘Live’ on Business / Operation Plan • September 2013 – PQASSO Detail Self-Assessment • 2014 (Targeted) – PQASSO Level 1 Assessment

What we can offer in terms of QA: • Mentoring • Consultancy • Project Management • Practical Assistance • Also: • Marketing Support and Consultancy • Business Planning Support and Consultancy • Social Return on Investment Support and Consultancy • Website Design and Maintenance • Design and Print Services Contact: Andrew Kay or Lindsey Duckworth t: 01254 244716 twitter: @CANWeCIC e: akay@canwesolutions.org.uk or lduckworth@canwesolutions.org.uk www.canwesolutions.org.uk

Andrew Kay Quality Assurance & Impact Co-ordinator, CANWe Solutions CIC